Wearable computer system

Abstract

A wearable computer system that provides for convenient and efficient use of all fingers while the user is standing, reclining or using hands intermittently for other tasks. The central unit hangs from a neck strap and communicates with a head mounted display. The central unit's front surface has keys, accessible from opposite edges by each hand. Typing is similar to the traditional, but rotated 90 degrees on each side. Keys are individually assignable to any letter, symbol, musical note, color, action, or macro. Back panels have thumb keys and controls, and can be modified to accept alternate thumb controls and additional hardware, such as sensors, circuits, cameras, and auxiliary connectors for specific tasks such as musical instrument performance or augmented reality game play. Smartphones, can be incorporated within or connected to the central unit. Desktop use can be accomplished by unfolding the panels of one embodiment.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The need to balance size, weight and portability against efficient control of mobile devices has brought about various compromises pitting portability against capability relating to the physical human factors of these devices. Handheld devices, such as smartphones, offer various input methods, including speech recognition, touch-screens and miniature keyboards. These methods are sometimes further facilitated by predictive text programs and pattern recognition. The size limitation created by the desire to make mobile devices as portable as possible, usually fitting conveniently in the user's pocket, has placed a significant limitation on the ease with which a user can physically enter and manipulate data. Although the computing power of a laptop computer is now available in a much smaller package, the larger, tactile keyboard of the laptop configuration is not. This is partially due to the fact that the conveniently small size of the mobile device does not...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017]According to a broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a central unit that is worn by the user, on the anterior of the user's torso, suspended from a neck strap, and held and operated using both hands, each hand grasping the central unit from an opposite side of its housing, as one would suspend and grasp a pair of binoculars prior to use. Half of a full function, tactile keyboard is provided on the anterior face of each side of the central unit housing, such that the user may enter text or other data using the same finger as the user would have used for each key on a desktop keyboard. The posterior side of the central unit housing contains controls that are operated by the thumbs for such actions as enter / return, Ctrl, Alt, Shift, scroll, cursor control and the entering of spaces in text, as well as mouse pad, trackball and joystick type controllers for use during game play and graphical editing. Display of information is accomplished by way of a head mounted display that the user wears near to the eye in a manner that allows the user to see the computer's graphical user interface with at least one of the user's eyes at all times. The head mounted display is in communication with the central unit through a cable or wireless connection. Options are provided that allow for the unfolding and deployment of the central unit upon a flat surface if the user so desires. Further options are provided allowing for the addition and incorporation of auxiliary sensors, controls, and equipment to facilitate specific applications and hardware.

Problems solved by technology

Although mobile device users can easily obtain vast content, a very significant gap still exists between the data that can be conveniently entered into a stationary computing device by one using a full function keyboard that is positioned on a horizontal surface, and the data that can be conveniently entered into a mobile computing device by one who must use thumbs on a miniature keyboard or a touch-screen.

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